Whether you ask for matcha tea, matcha green tea, or matcha powder, you are essentially asking for the same thing; matcha tea is powdered tea most often made from Japanese green tea, but can be made from Chinese tea, or any other tea for that matter.

Being that matcha is typically green tea, and green tea is caffeinated, there is some caffeine in matcha teas. The amount of caffeine will have some slight variances depending on the tea used, but it will be there.

The Caffeine Chemical

Green tea caffeine levels are relatively low, especially when compared to black tea, coffee, or energy drinks. Your average steeped green tea will have around 25-45 milligrams of caffeine in it per serving. This makes green tea a bit lower in caffeine than black tea, which averages around 70 milligrams per serving, and substantially lower than the caffeine levels in coffee, which are around 95 milligrams at the low end but is often closer to 200 milligrams a cup.

Matcha tea does have more caffeine than regular green tea, but still less than both black tea and coffee. Matcha powder, due to the fact that the powdered leaves are dissolved into the water, does not have anything “stay behind” in the leaf after brewing, leaving your average 8 oz cup of matcha tea with 45-60 milligrams of caffeine.

However, just because there is more caffeine in a cup of matcha than in a cup of your normal green tea does not make this an unhealthy option. The caffeine that is in tea is much more astringent than that found in coffee, and since the body processes all pure teas like water, you get the pure hydration effects along with the slower release of caffeine through the body. This avoids the common jolt and crash that you might experience with the caffeine associated with coffee while offering a calm alertness that will stay with you, keeping you at an even energy level for a longer period of time.

Matcha Selection

Matcha tea, much like standard Japanese green tea, comes in a variety of different flavors and qualities. These range from plain to strongly flavored, or from a low quality up to a ceremonial grade quality. The selections that are offered here at the Whistling Kettle offer matcha powders that will appeal to any taste. Here are a few you may haven’t heard of before.

Matcha Jasmine

Jasmine is a popular addition to a number of different tea types. When the jasmine is added to matcha teas, the result is a tea that has the flavor of Jasmine coupled with the grassier taste and typical caffeine content that is associated with Japanese green tea.

Matcha Chai

Matcha Chai is a unique blend of Indian Spices and matcha green tea. The taste of this tea is a strong sample of a mix of cultures, with a strong matcha made as a base with the chai spice added in. This is a potent tea that we actually do recommend for blending with milk or cream and sugar to taste. The caffeine content of this tea is average for matcha tea.

Matcha White Rhino

Mention was made earlier that “most” matcha teas are Japanese green tea. Well, our Matcha White Rhino is derived from Kenyan White Teas. The result is a light matcha that is lower in caffeine than most matcha teas while having a higher level of anti-oxidants.

Matcha Pearl Drop

Grown on the Pearl River, this is a matcha that is actually derived from the Jianxi Province in China. The fact that this tea is grown and processed in China offers a different flavor quality since it originates from higher altitudes and isn’t shaded like it’s Japanese counterpart. The flavor is pure, lightly astringent, and at a relatively low cost for matcha tea, this has the flavor of a true luxury tea couple with slightly higher than average matcha caffeine content.

The Conclusion…

Matcha green tea (or matcha white tea) is not excessive in caffeine content, and since it is not acidic, but astringent in nature you avoid the potential crash that is associated with coffee. In addition to the healthier taste and feeling from the healthier caffeine levels, you can actually improve your health through the presence of polyphenols, anti-oxidants, and flavonoids. In fact, in matcha teas since the lead is being consumed, you get the highest count of these phyto-chemicals out of any tea, making matcha tea an excellent beverage choice for everyone.

Comments

I have never heard of blended matcha teas before. Very interesting. Although I tend to be a purist, you have certainly peaked my interest with your jasmine matcha – jasmine green tea is one of my early favorites so it holds a special place in my heart. I very much appreciate your explanation about the caffeine issues. As interest in tea is growing among health conscious consumers, they often express concerns about the caffeine. Despite my reasurrances, they often are reluctant to try green teas in favor of tissanes – which I explain aren’t true tea at all. I’ll point a few concerned folks your way in the hopes that they’ll be able to appreciate your conclusions.

A good analogy would be Champagne. Because Champagne is a legally defined product, anything grown outside that region is considered ‘sparkling wine’. The term Matcha is not legally defined, therefore there is not an authority that regulates it. Bourbon is regulated in the same manner.

True, Matcha traditionally is made from Tencha. However non-shaded varieties are also made from the de-veined leaves and processed in the same manner.

Adding chocolate to beer, technically violates the German Beer Purity laws, but does it make it not beer?

Teaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everydayexistence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of thesocial order.